Need help with an Alpine stereo

[Aussie Ford]

Howdy,
I bought my 95 Tour with an Alpine CDA7839 in it. I downloaded a manual from the Apline web site, but it did not contain any installation or wiring info. Haven't found anything on the web to help.

I just want to pull it out and hook up my power antenna (I have ready to install) to it, and reinstall it. I have no idea how it is installed (hope to get that from the manual).

This thing has the removable face plate, the manual says it came with a remote and case for the face plate too, but I didn't get them.

The Alpine site doesn't seem user friendly as there is no place I could find to ask a question, or get the info I need.

Any info you can provide about this would be helpful.

Thanks

[tedBalog]

The antenna is just a simple plug in, I thought the power antenna's came on with the car, not the radio. I wouldn't think you'd have to do anything seperate.

[Aussie Ford]

Well my friend you are right and wrong. All venicles with a radio have an antenna. These are either fixed or retractable. Some of the old fixed type were embeded in the winshield like on my old 79 GMC 1ton 4x4. I think most Contours came with a fixed antenna on the rear quarter panel. Of the retractable type they are either manual or power operated. When a radio is changed it is a simple unplug and plug in for the standard antenna. In a power antenna the antenna part is the same, but the power raising / lowering aspect is controlled by the radio. In the 95 Contour the wire that controls it is blue w/ red. It goes from the radio to the antenna module, and triggers the antenna going up or down when the radio, or ignition is turned on / off. My car did not have a power antenna so I am adding it (I got this off a Mystique) along with the wiring. The non stock Alpine stereo in my car may have a control wire for a power antenna, but to determin that and hook it up I have to remove the unit, which I have no idea how to do. Like I said their web site and manual were no help. At the same time I hook up the antenna control wire I also plan to fix the issue that power to the radio was connected wrong so that it only comes on in the key on position. It should come on in the accessory and key on positions. This leads me to think that who ever installed it did not know the proper wiring for the Contour. Also if you were to order a vehicle w/o a radio it would come w/o an antenna. Many service vehicles are ordered by companies w/o radios cuz they're cheaper. Since most people order radios we just tend to think of them as part of the car who'd ever get one without it?????

Now if you know anything about the Alpine CDA7839 I'd appreciate your help.

Regards,

[CarpePoon]

Here are the aftermarket standard wiring codes since they were standardized in '99

P o w e r
Memory (+12v Constant) Yellow
Ignition (+12v Switched) Red
Ground (-) Black
Dimmer Pink/White (Alpine only)
Power Antenna Blue
Amplifier Turn-on Blue/White
Phone Mute Light Blue (Sony only)
S p e a k e r s
Right Front (+) Gray
Right Front (-) Gray/Black
Left Front (+) White
Left Front (-) White/Black
Right Rear (+) Violet
Right Rear (-) Violet/Black
Left Rear (+) Green
Left Rear (-) Green/Black

Heres a helpfull link to the contours wire codes.
http://www.installdr.com/Harnesses/Ford-Wiring.pdf

[FavoriteMystaque]

That Alpine site is a pain, but still beats ordering the manuals from www.pacparts.com, where you can get the remote, or try ebay... The CDA7837 is close (PDF download), CDA7837 wiring The power antenna trigger lead is blue. The Blue/Red from your harness connects there. The factory antenna control module (tan box) needs several power sources shown in this diagram:

[IMG][/IMG]
Have fun!

[Aussie Ford]

Thanks for the wiring info guys ........ Still looking for how to remove and reinstall this Alpine CDA7839 unit..

[FavoriteMystaque]

Try calling:

Audio Products Technical Support
(Alpine Electronics of America, Inc.)
(800) TECH-101 (1-800-832-4101)

If you pop the faceplate there may be a tiny latch pin, circular with a hole in it, one on each side. Also, sometimes if you remove the trim ring there is a latch pin on the outside. I had a Clarion radio that needed tools to release it, got them on ebay.

[Pale Horse]

Thanks for the wiring info guys ........ Still looking for how to remove and reinstall this Alpine CDA7839 unit..

Did you not get two thin pieces of metal in a wierd shape in the box? Every CD player comes with them if you buy it new. (not sure if you did). If you have them, you can slide them in on the sides of the cd player (remove the faceplate). Some of the Alpine cd players have two detents that are springloaded on the sided of the housing as well. You can lift these small detents and wiggle the cd player out of the aluminum can. It's hard to explain without pictures but picture this.

You have the rectangular shape of the headunit staring at you. on the left and right sides of the rectangle you will find the two slots where you can slide the keys in. (if you have them) Or you will see the two springloaded detents that you can lift up and out of their groove to release the player from the aluminum 'can'.

I feel retarded typing this....I don't feel like I am making any sense.

[Aussie Ford]

I got this already installed with the car so I don't have any metal pieces, or info with it. I have the removable face plate removed and I removed the trim ring.

Looking I think I see the two springloaded detents that you can lift up and out of their downward groove. I did that and there is a corner at the top of their groove where they go into a slot. It looks like that runs toward the back of the unit. I had to help them by the edges of the plastic face, and there are two what look like a spring clips about 3/16 wide one above one below the detent that turns out and makes a tab that rests on the face of the metal box. I put some pressure under these and was able to move it out a little more than the distance of the heads of the detents. Problem is that everything is so tight that I am concerned about someting breaking. Just doesn't seem right to have to use the amount of force I was using and only moved it about 1/8". The little tabs were starting to straighten out and deform so I quit and put it back in place. Still works....

I did call the Alpine tech line this morning and they were to email the installation info but that was several hours ago and nothing yet. The guy I talked to mentioned spring loaded clips on the sides too. He was surprised the info wasn't on the download site.... but like I said nothing yet.

[FavoriteMystaque]

Maybe they will put that information up on the site now. Check if the unit is secured from behind, and maybe you do need special handles..